WASHINGTON – A Senate committee has approved the nomination of John B. King Jr. to be the nation’s new education secretary.
The vote by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was 16 to 6. King’s nomination now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
If confirmed, King – who is currently acting secretary – would oversee the department as it implements a bipartisan education law passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in December. The measure revamps the widely criticized No Child Left Behind Act and substantially limits the federal government’s influence in the nation’s schools.
King began his education career as a high school social studies teacher. He was tapped by Obama late last year to succeed longtime Secretary Arne Duncan, who stepped down in December.
